West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-02-03
A Proposed New County Court for
Preston County.
HOUSE BILL so. d.

the eighth article of the Constitu.
ton OF this State.
Jan. l3'-Mr. Jones. Referred
to Committee on Counties, Districts
and Municipal Corporations. Jan.
l9.-Reported back with recommen.
dation TO pass. Jan. 2l.-Read "a
first time, and ordered 10 a second
reading
BE it enacted by the Legislature
of West Virginia:
/. The County Of Preston, shall
be laid OF into eight districts as
nearly equal as may be in territory
and population. The present divis.
ions of said County into districts,
shall constitute such districts until
changed by the County Court, here
matter mentioned, and according to
law. The County court established
in the said county by the VIII Ar
ticle OF the Constitution of this State,
is hereby reformed, altered and mod.
flied, that is to say: The county
court of the county OF Preston, shall
be composed of eight commissioners.
The voters of each district shall elect
one commissioner, who shall be a
resident Of such district. Should any
commissioner remove from the dis.
trict of which he was resident at the
time of his election, his Office shall
thereby become vacant: The Office
of commissioner and of Justice of the
peace. shall bedeened incompatible.
Each commiai6h1k shnll receive for
his servicess 5 dosShTs for each day
he shall attcndfthe court, to be paid
out of the county treasury.
2. At the general election in the
year 1888, and at each succeeding
general election, there shall be elect
ed by the voters of each of said dis
trict one commissioner, whose term
of Office shall commence on the first
day of January, next after his elect
ion, and continue for two years.
3. SO far rs they are not inconsist-
ent herewith, all the provisions of
chapter 80, Of the Code of West Vir.
ginia, concerning county courts, their
jurisdiction and powers" and all pro-
visions of law respecting county
courts generally, the commissioners
composing such courts, and clerks Of
such courts, shall be applicable to
county court herein provided, and to
the commissioners composing the
same and the clerk of the county
court of Preston county, now in office,
and his successors; shall be clerk of
the county court herein provided.
A majority of such commissioners
shall be a quorum for the transaction
of business.
4. The first meeting of the county
court herein provided, shall be held
on the first Monday of January, in
the year 1889, or as soon thereafter,
as a majority of them may assemble
for the purpose, at which time, and
annually thereafter, at their first
meeting in each year, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, they shall
elect one of their number President
OF the court.
{. At the general election in the
year 1883, the question of the adopt
ion of the system provided by this
Act, shall be submitted to the voters
of the county of Preston, voting at
such election. Notice Of such cleo.
ton shall be given by the publication
of this Act, in each weekly newsps.
per published in said county, once in
each week for two successive weeks.
Those voting for said system shall
have written or printed on their bal
lots the words, For Modification OF
County Court and those voting
against it, shall have written or print
ed ON their ballots the words, Against
Modification Of County Court"
6. Such election, at each place OF
voting, in said county, shall be super.
intended, conducted and returned by
the same officers and in the same
manner as the election Of members
Of the Legislature is superinlended,
conducted and returned, and the re-
SIT at each place Of voting. shall be
certified and retained 70 the county
court now 10 existence I'm Preston
county. Said court shall convene i'm
special session az provided in chap
ter 3, section 81, oflhc Code Of West
Virginia, and shall In oil respects be
governed by The laws in relation TO
.H--ar.- q .-.